How to perform repair upgrade in Windows 11 - ARTICLE

Technical Level: Intermediate.

Applies to: All Windows 11 editions.

Revision: 1.0.

Summary

If you are facing multiple issues with your Windows 11 installation, you can perform repair install with an in-place upgrade aka repair upgrade to fix such issues at once. Using the repair upgrade, you can install Windows 11 over an already installed Windows 11 system. For installation, you can use Windows 11 ISO file available free of cost to everyone from official Microsoft website. After the repair upgrade, we assume that broken system files will be fixed and multiple issues you were facing should be resolved. Since repair install is an upgrade process, your data will not be affected and also, you have options to keep your data or remove it, as per your need.

Requirements

Windows 11 ISO file which you can download free of cost from Microsoft's official website here. The Windows 11 ISO file should have same language as your current Windows 11 installation. The Windows 11 ISO file you will be using must be the same edition (e.g. Pro for Pro), same version (e.g. Version 24H2 for Version 24H2), and same or higher build as the currently installed Windows 11. You need to login to the administrator account on your system to perform the repair upgrade. Make sure your system is fully charged or you can let your system connected to a power source during the upgrade process.

Steps to perform repair upgrade

1. Locate the Windows 11 ISO file matching requirements mentioned above and right click on it, select Mount.

2. After this, open File Explorer (press Windows key + E) and you will find that the ISO file has been mounted to a DVD drive.

3. Under that DVD drive, you will find a file named setup.exe. Double click on it to open the file.

4. Click Yes in the User Account Control confirmation prompt.

5. After this, Windows will start preparing for Windows 11 Setup. This may take a minute or less.

6. Under Install Windows 11, click on Change how Setup download updates.

7. Here, you can select whether you want to get updates during this repair upgrade. If you do not want any updates, you can click on Not right now. If you like, you can uncheck I want to help make the installation better option here. Click Next.

8. In the next screen, Accept the licensing terms to continue.

9. After this, setup will check your system to make sure you’re ready to install the upgrade. If there are any additional requirements from the setup, you’ll be shared about it.

10. In few moments, you will get Ready to install screen. Here, you can click on Change what to keep.

11. Under Choose what to keep, you can select either to keep personal files and apps or keep personal files only or keep nothing. Click Next after your selection.

12. Finally, hit the Install button on Ready to install screen.

13. Now you’ll see Installing Windows 11 screen. This may take a while to complete, depending upon your system.

14. Once Installing Windows 11 screen is 100% completed, your system will restart.

15. After restart, you’ll be getting Working on updates and let it be completed to 100%.

16. Once completed, you’re taken to the lock screen.

17. You can now pull up lock screen and then login to your already existing account.

18. Once logged in, the repair upgrade is finally completed. If you opted to keep all of your data, you will find that your files or data or settings are not affected.

If you need further help with above steps, you can checkout this video guide:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgOaqeqvDT0

Hope this helps!